Ever had one of those real life experiences when time freezes and you are swept up in the moment? That spontaneous moment was a spectacle in the USA’s Yellowstone National Park for Intrepid Group Leader Erin Gavlock, when natural attraction took hold…

“The bright morning mist is mixing with the kicked up clouds of dust and I’m running right beside them.

Sometimes when we travel we can take a turn that appears to be for the worse, only to discover that it eventually puts us on the right track. For Anthony Rishchynski it was a change in direction that resulted in one of his most memorable moments in Turkey…

“As the bus quickly scurries off into the dark of night, I start to think it may have been a mistake to get off. I’m in Tatvan, a small city on the western shores of Lake Van in Turkey; my aforementioned bus made a quick stop here at my request, before continuing on to its, and eventually my, final destination of Van.

We get such a buzz when we hear from travellers who have had life-changing experiences while on the road with Intrepid.

We receive emails with heart-warming, uplifting and inspiring stories about people who had an amazing chance encounter, struck up a lasting friendship with someone who lives on the other side of the world, or even met their husband or wife on an Intrepid tour! We read about people who were inspired to change their career, some who found a new focus and those who accomplished something they never thought was possible.

MatadorU graduate Priyanka Kher is your foodie guide for a day of gluttony…

“I grew up in Delhi. The city is home to food from nearly all the states in India, and in all variety of forms: snacks, street food, mains, appetizers. Given 24 hours, this is how I’d stuff my face.

7:00am
To get everything in, you have to start early. First stop: a cup of Chai and Bread Pakora at the nearest tea-stall you can find; most are strategically placed on roadside corners and main intersections. Chai khokhas, as they are commonly known around India, are popular all-day hangouts that cater to all sorts, from the urban working class to students to minimum wage earners.

When a Perth-based friend recently decided to move back to Australia’s East Coast, the opportunity for an adventure was too good for Sophie Suelzle to pass up. Sophie and her boyfriend packed their bags, borrowed a tent and booked a one-way ticket to partake in what would be the most epic road trip of their young(ish) lives…

“It is a strange thing to have explored numerous places overseas, yet never the country you call home. Shamefully, until the beginning of this year, I could honestly say I had barely ventured out of Victorian borders, except for a solitary school camping trip.

There is something very special about seeing the world awaken and as James Fenneberg discovered, few places can put on a sunrise show like Kenya…

“It’s 5.30 in the morning and I can already feel the heat of Africa. There are monkeys playing outside the window and the sky is dotted with the last remaining stars of the night. As the truck starts up, that oh so familiar sound on safari, it wheels us in darkness to an opening, where in the distance there is a hub of activity. A group of locals and a rather beardy ex-army fellow are inflating a huge hot air balloon.